CHILLI GROWERS WELCOME TO THE CHILLI GROWERS WORKSHOP SHAWN T. PLUMB

Transcription

1 CHILLI GROWERS WELCOME TO THE CHILLI GROWERS WORKSHOP SHAWN T. PLUMB

2 OVERVIEW Housekeeping Introductions History of Chilli Peppers Variety selection Propagating Potting on Support and pruning Feeding your plants Harvesting Overwintering Preventing pests & diseases Choosing a growing location Growing systems Q & A Tasting Session in the restaurant Paper Lantern Habanero

3 HOUSE KEEPING Informal (please ask questions) Toilet in restaurant Smoking (parking lot only) Fire evacuation Please leave us feedback!!! Thank You Fatalli chilli pods freshly picked at Edible Ornamentals

4 INTRODUCTIONS Name What one thing would you like to take away from today s workshop? Prairie Fire

5 HISTORY OF CHILLI PEPPERS Consumed by humans as early as 7500 BC Domesticated more than 6000 years ago in Mexico Columbus first European to encounter peppers Portuguese exportation to Africa, India and Southeast Asia From India, through Central Asia and Turkey, to Hungary ( Paprika ) Alternative version: From Spanish colonies in the Philippines, to India, China, Indonesia, then Japan and Korea. Capsicum frutescens found in 13 th century layer in Lund, Sweden. 1912: Wilbur Lincoln Scoville & the Scoville Organoleptic Test Hottest in the world Chocolate Habanero

6 VARIETY SELECTION Chilli varieties are differentiated by heat, shape, pod size, colours and colour changes, upward or downward growing pods, growth rates and flavour. Capsicums cross pollinate between different varieties. At you can find a database of 3791 types of pepper by name, heat, origin and genus. Consider your planned uses: food, spice, or for ornamental value or all of the above. Where will you grow your plants? Consider the size and shape of the plant (compact, bushy, or ascending). Lets have a look at some different examples in the selling greenhouse.

7 PROPAGATION

8 PROPAGATION Propagate from seed or cuttings Start early: January, February, and March Propagator with lid Systems & substrates Compost (seed compost) Coco fiber ROOT!T & Root Riot plugs Rockwool & rockwool plugs Cell trays Open tray Germinate in paper Aeroponic propagation 25C until germination Germination in 1 to 40 days (depends on varieties) Once germinated seedlings need light Remove lid & mist daily Open tray propagation in one of the heated benches at Edible Ornamentals

9 POTTING ON Pricking out from open trays Potting on plugs Pot size considerations Good quality multi-purpose compost Mix with perlite Potting to Rockwool Potting to Coco fiber Potting to Perlite/Vermiculite When roots emerge from bottom of pot transfer to next stage pot Seedling or plug into 9cm to either 1ltr or 2ltr Then from 1 or 2 litre on to 4 or 5 litre

10 WHY DO OUR PLANTS NEED SUPPORT?

11 CROP SUPPORT AND PRUNING Large and bushy plants will require support. Good support increases crop density and yield. Canes, strings, clips, nets, frames can all be used. Growing in windowsill? Prune as a house plant. Outdoors, greenhouse, patio? Prune for yield. Remove foliage below split. Remove damaged or diseased foliage. Remove early deformed fruit.

12 ADVICE FOR FEEDING YOUR PLANTS For plants in soil or compost Soil fertilizers contain the three main macronutrients, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK). Plants also require additional macronutrients and micronutrients in order to thrive and provide good yields. Soil fertilizers will assume these nutrients are already in the soil. Freshly potted plants into nutrient-rich compost will have a few weeks worth of nutrients. Use Miracle Grow for early stage growth. Switch to Tomorite when plant goes into full fruiting and flowering. Feeding plants in soil-less systems (rockwool, coco fibre, clay balls, aeroponics, NFT, etc.) Since these substrates are neutral we need a full-spectrum fertilizer Use a hydroponic nutrient fertilizer We stock Vitalink Consider PH of your water Follow instructions Handle with care

13 HARVEST Start picking as soon as possible Pick frequently Leave stem on to increase shelf life Picking green will increase overall yield Have a plan Freeze Pickle Eat Cook Cajamarca

14 OVER WINTERING Capsicums are tender perennials. If outside keep an eye on night temps, 7c is minimum growing temp for mature plant. Move plant indoors to sunny porch or conservatory, prune plant back if you need the space. Continue picking until December, then remove all fruit. Reduce watering, growth rate slows significantly due to very short winter day length. Plants start growing again when day lengths reach 12 hours (April). Then transplant and start feeding.

15 REDUCING RISKS (PESTS & DISEASES) Common Chilli Pepper pests Greenfly Whitefly Spider mite Typical diseases Gray mold Powdery mildew Algae Prevention Good air movement Elevated, but not high, humidity Consider soil-less systems Suppress all weeds Introduce predators Monitor closely and treat issues promptly Dish soap method Tobacco Mosaic Virus

16 SYSTEMS

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18 QUESTIONS

19 SUMMARY Housekeeping Introductions History of Chilli Peppers Variety selection Propagating Potting on Support and pruning Feeding your plants Harvesting Overwintering Preventing pests & diseases Choosing a growing location Growing systems Q & A Tasting Session in the restaurant

20 THE NEXT STEP CHILLI TOUR & TASTING CHILLI CHOCOLATE AFTERNOON TEA COOKING WITH CHILLIES MADE SIMPLE CHILLI COCKTAILS GOURMET COOKING DEMO THE ALTERNATIVE TOUR AND MUCH MORE